WHAKAPAPA: GET DOWN UPON YOUR KNEES

WHAKAPAPA: GET DOWN UPON YOUR KNEES - Sat 12th Jun 2010 - Sun 31st Oct 2010

WHAKAPAPA: GET DOWN UPON YOUR KNEES

Reuben Paterson's glittering, painted on canvas installation comes direct from the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) in Brisbane, Australia. The APT includes work of more than 100 artists from 25 countries, including collaborations and collectives, which reflect the diversity of practices across Asia, the Pacific and Australia.


Tauranga Art Gallery is the first venue in New Zealand to have this work.

Whakapapa: get down upon your knees is about family and lineage. Paterson's lineage is diverse, being Mäori and Scottish, and the objects from which Paterson has drawn inspiration, explore both his Scottish ancestry and the nuance of Paterson's iwi, Ngati Rangitihi and their long association with art and craft.

This manifests in Whakapapa: get down upon your knees through traditional koru and paisley designs. The design aspect is fundamental to Paterson's painting, with strong use of colour, repetition and lines, which are used to link the present with the past. All is topped with a lavish dusting of glitter, Paterson's signature.

The installation also includes a DVD entitled Te Pütahitanga ö Rehua based on whakapapa, ancestry and roots, from 17 July.

Reuben Paterson's family comes from Matata. He has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions extensively throughout New Zealand and internationally, and was awarded the Möet et Chandon Arts Fellowship to France in 1997, the youngest Mäori recipient of New Zealand's only fine art award at this time.



Click here for Reuben's floortalk (40mins)

Click here for in-depth review on Whakapapa Get Down Upon Your Knees





Images from Reuben's floortalk

Reuben Paterson


Reuben's floortalk, Saturday 12 June







Reuben Paterson




Staff with Whakapapa







Reuben in front of three of the four panels that make up Whakapapa: Get Down Upon Your Knees.















Getting in the Groove!
Reuben's work is very contagious, and Gallery staff just couldn't resist...









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